Ger toshav (pl. geirei toshav, Hebrew: גר תושב), according to Judaism and the Torah, is a gentile who is a "resident alien," that is, one who lives in the Land of Israel under certain protections of the system, and is considered a righteous gentile. Hebrew (עִבְרִית ‘Ivrit) is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and Jewish communities around the world. ... Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people with around 15 million followers as of 2006 [1]. It is one of the first recorded monotheistic faiths and one of the oldest religious traditions still practiced today. ... Torah () is a Hebrew word meaning teaching, instruction, or law. It is the central and most important document of Judaism revered by Jews through the ages. ... The word Gentile from the Latin gentilis, can either be a translation of the Hebrew Goy/גוי or of the Hebrew word Nochri/נכרי. In the most common modern use it refers to the former being derived from the Latin term gens (meaning clan or a group of families) and it is... This article concerns the concept of The Land of Israel (Hebrew: ארץ ישראל Eretz Yisrael) in Jewish and Christian thought throughout the history from its Biblical sources to the present day. ...

There are two kinds of Ger Toshav. A formal one is a gentile who has made certain legal statements in a Beth Din (Jewish rabbinical court). There are three opinions (Avodah Zarah 64b) as to what those statements promise: A beth din (בית דין, Hebrew: house of judgment, plural battei din) is a rabbinical court of Judaism. ... Avodah Zarah (meaning idolatry - lit. ...

1. To abstain from idolatrous practices.
2. To uphold the seven Noahide Laws.
3. To uphold all the 613 Mitzvot, except for the eating of non-Kosher meat.

The definition used by all authorities is the second. In all cases, the statement is a formal sign that the gentile is on a righteous path, and as such, they must by law receive certain legal protections and special charity/financial aid from the community. The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... The Seven Noahide Laws (Hebrew: שבע מצוות בני נח Šbaˤ mişwōt bnē-Noḥ), also called the Brit Noah (Covenant of Noah) or Law of the First Covenant, are the Jewish mitzvot (commandments) and halakhot (laws) that are morally binding on non-Jews. ... 613 mitzvot (or 613 Commandments. ... The circled U indicates that this can of tuna is certified kosher by the Union of Orthodox Congregations. ...

The second kind of Ger Toshav is an informal one, namely someone who has not sworn anything to a Beth Din (Avodah Zarah 65a). In this case, they are not formally entitled to financial aid by law, but the attitude of a religious Jew to someone who has forgone idolatry is supposed to be much more welcoming (from the perspective of Jewish law) than to someone who has not. Furthermore, the restrictions that pertain to an idolater (in terms of business and doing things that might be aiding idol worship) are forgone.

The procedure has been discontinued since the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and hence, there are no formal gerei toshav extant today (although it can be argued that a great deal are "informal" ones). Nevertheless, Judaism warmly encourages non-Jews to adhere to the Noahide Laws, and some groups, notably Chabad Lubavitch, have set up classes and networks for gentiles who commit themselves to this legal system. In that sense, it is possible to be a "Jewish gentile". The Temple in Jerusalem or the Holy Temple (Hebrew: בית המקדש, transliterated Bet HaMikdash) was built in ancient Jerusalem in c. ... Belarus, where Lubavitch originated Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994) the seventh Rebbe of Chabad Lubavitch. ...

See also

• Ger Tzedek
• Noahide Laws
• Proselyte